My guy and I have been travelling together for almost nine years now. We’ve figured out that our best trips are always the ones where we’ve stayed in homes or apartments instead of hotels. It’s a fun way to experience a new place and having a place that really feels like home at the end of a long day exploring makes me feel more relaxed. And then there’s having access to a kitchen – I love to cook whether it’s at home or when we’re away.

Over the years I’ve made a lot of mistakes when it came to self-catering in rented apartments. Now I’ve got it down to a fine art and I wanted to share my secrets with you to encourage you to try out cooking a few meals on your next vacation.